7 Benefits of Flexible Working
If your company and your employees are struggling with long commutes, clashing schedules, and low productivity, maybe you should consider the benefits a flexible work arrangement could bring to you and your employees. One of the biggest reasons businesses and employees want flexible working arrangements is that it increases the overall morale and engagement in a workplace. Studies show that even occasional use of flexible working arrangements dramatically increases employee satisfaction in their workplace, making them more likely to stay at their current employment longer. Typically, employees who are trusted and given flexible schedules return the favour by being more engaged and productive.
When employees are limited by strict hours or have only one place of business, some will seek employment where there is more flexibility. This flexibility may involve scheduling, hours, or location of work.
Research suggests that you can improve job satisfaction by allowing employees to work from home or on a flexible schedule. As more jobs these days can be done on a laptop, offering flexible hours or office space can be a powerful incentive for skyrocketing employee engagement. While this may sound counterintuitive at first, working flexibly usually comes with fewer distractions, better time management, and increased focus, which all translate to improved efficiency for employees.
Statistics around the impact of work-life balance on productivity suggest companies can double their employees’ productivity when they adopt flexibility. Offering flexible schedules brings with it many benefits, not only for employees but for companies and employers. There is no denying that flexible scheduling is one of the main benefits employees seek from companies, right up there with longer vacations and greater benefits overall. As this arrangement benefits both the companies and the employees, it stands to reason offering flex scheduling in employment contracts could help you attract more high-level talent. It would also be beneficial to consult external HR support to form the right strategy to attract and retain talented people.
If none of the above convinced you that offering employees flexible schedules would be beneficial for your business, consider the fact that 83% of companies have either offered flexible scheduling or are planning on offering it to their employees. Employers who give their employees flexibility may even find that they are a greener, more profitable, and more desirable company for people to want to work at. Managers are finding that, for many high-skilled workers, being able to establish flexible workspaces or hours is just as appealing as the pay and benefits. Employees who have flexible jobs experience less stress and are far more laid back than those who have rigid work schedules.
Whether they are stressed out because of their work or because of their personal problems, a little flexibility in their schedules could make all the difference. Employees can choose to reduce their hours or select a place to work other than a typical office. Employees can begin and finish their jobs at the same time each day, or they can adjust their schedules to fit life events. Flextime allows employees to choose their own start and stop times, working a similar number of hours every day.
Under flextime arrangements, the employee may be required to work a set number of base hours over a set period, giving the employee greater flexibility over their start and end times. Job sharing allows employees to choose, within agreed boundaries, the days and hours they work at the highest rate within a specified time frame. Part-time hours let employees work longer days but lesser days (think four 10-hour days, rather than five eight-hour days). Such arrangements are usually a combination of flexible schedules and compressed workweeks, and they may help to cut down on the number of overtime hours needed.
Location flexibility refers to arrangements that allow employees to telecommute away from their primary workplace. Flexible working arrangements are agreements between employers and employees which give employees some level of scheduling freedom. Flexible work arrangements enable employees to negotiate less restrictive work arrangements in order to enhance their work-life balance, as well as their overall contributions to the firm. For employees, flexible arrangements decrease stress, enable individuals to meet their needs, enhance mental health, offer a sense of control and empowerment, and result in shorter commutes.
Despite the organisations’ good intentions and business incentives for nondiscrimination, however, certain groups of employees can reap greater benefits from flexible work arrangements than others simply because their circumstances make those options more appealing. Flexible work options, such as reduced schedules, telecommuting, and variable hours, provide employees with greater freedom, which, in turn, increases both their work satisfaction and overall productivity. In addition to saving both employees and employers money, flexible working can have major benefits for the environment and also supports any sustainability goals that your business may have. To meet their employees’ needs, many companies have adopted not just telecommuting policies but also flexible work arrangements (FWAs) that could be a regular part of an employee’s experience going forward.
Now that many employers have experienced how successful telecommuting can be for their organisations or how working hours different than a typical 9-to-5 schedule can be adopted without harming productivity, offering flexible work arrangements could become more common. Flexible work also decreases absences, as employees are able to adapt schedules instead of taking leave. For instance, although a flexible employee might be able to work any hours that fit his work style and allow him to accomplish his job, you might need employees to work specific core hours that overlap with the rest of your team members. This way, everyone can attend the weekly team meeting or is available for clients from a specific time zone.
All in all, flexible working arrangements are beneficial for both employees and the employer, as it helps the staff to achieve work-life balance, which in turn motivates them to work harder to produce excellent results for the company.